Apple's 2021 entry-level 10.2-inch iPad with the A13 Bionic, 64GB base storage, a 12MP Center Stage front camera, a home button, Lightning and a headphone jack. It is widely seen as a great-value tablet for basics, though its dated design, first-gen Pencil support and 3GB of RAM limit its longer-term appeal.
This entry is written from the 5 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
On the evidence gathered here, yes. 78% of owners say they would buy it again, and satisfaction is still 7.0 out of 10 two years in. Has received four major iPadOS updates since launch.
Reviewers and owners still describe it as the value pick for everyday tablet tasks, with the dated design the main visual gripe. The bigger concerns arrive later, as its 3GB of RAM and battery life after updates come into question.
Only 3GB of RAM, which limits future iPadOS and rules out Apple Intelligence. Owners worry each major update will cut battery life.
Has received four major iPadOS updates since launch. Sentiment across the ownership period stays close to flat, which is rare: it reads 7.9 out of 10 in the first week and 7.0 two years later.
Worth it for: Kids and families; Browsing, video and email; Budget tablet buyers. Think twice if: Heavy apple pencil users; Owners of recent ipads; Buyers wanting years of future updates.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 7.8 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 7.9 / 10 |
| One month | 7.8 / 10 |
| Six months | 7.6 / 10 |
| One year | 7.4 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 7.0 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
Gives the $329 starting price and praises doubled storage and the Center Stage front camera, but calls the design dated and the A13's gain over the A12 barely noticeable.
Calls it strong value with more power, double the storage and True Tone, while noting a dated design, the non-magnetic first-gen Pencil and costly accessories.
Argues the 9th-gen is the better buy than the 10th-gen mainly on price, citing similar picture quality and the retained headphone jack.
Notes the iPad 9 has had four major updates (iPadOS 16, 17, 18 and 26) and that its 3GB of RAM makes it a poor buy for anyone counting on iPadOS 27.
Owners discuss updating to iPadOS 16; one finds it snappy and good value, while battery life after updates is the main worry.